Buckle.



No. 668,609. Patented Feb. I9, I90I.

n. GABRARD.

BUCKLE. (Application filed Apr. 22, 1899. Renewed Jan. 14, 1901.]

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llNtTED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT GARRARD, OF BEDFORD, IOWA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,609, dated February19, 1901.

Application filed April 22, 1899. Renewed January 14, 1901. Serial No.43,254. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it Wttty concern.-

Be it known that [,ROBERT Gnnnnnma citizen of the United States,residing at Bed ford, in the county of Taylor and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and Ido herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oftheinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in buckles for harness, 850.; andthe prime objects in view are the production of a buckle that iseconomically and simply constructed and which is adapted to receive andsecure in an eflicient manner the overlapping ends of heavy straps-such,for instance, as holdbackst-raps and the like-which will permit of aready adjustment of such straps through the same or a disconnection, asmay be desired, and which when closed subsequentto such an adjustmentmay be closed and auto matically locked against disconnection, and,finally, to avoid in the construction of the buckle any protrudingtongues or other projections that are at all calculated to engage withdifierent portions of the harness and tend to open the buckle onin anyway disturb or destroy the adjustment or connection.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedbuckle, showing the same as connecting two heavy straps, such asdescribed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center ofthe buckle and the connected straps. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 14: of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail in bottom plan of the locking-plate.

Similar numerals of reference designate similar parts in all the figuresof the drawings.

In practicing my invention I employ a buckle-frame 1 having a generaloblong shape and comprising the plain bottom 2, opposite sides 3, andthe upper connecting-plate 4, the whole being preferably formed integraland producing a frame or hollow structure open from end to end, asshown.

The upper plate 4 is provided with an angular opening 5, the front endof the opening being extended into the plate 4, forming a recess 6,producing at each side thereof shoulders 7, which may or may not bechamfered or beveled on their upper inner edges, as indicated at 8.

Within the opening 5 is adapted to somewhat snugly fit and completelyclose the same a locking-plate 9, the same having its rear end pivotedor hinged in position within the opening 5 by means of a transversepintle 10,

whereby the plate may be opened and closed. Near its free end the saidlocking-plate is provided upon its inner or under side with a dependingrigid stud or tongue 11, the lower end of which may be slightly beveled,as shown, and when the plate is closed extend into an opening 12, formedfor its accommodation in the bottom plate 2. A similarlydisposed, thoughshorter, stud or tongue 13 depends from the locking-plate, nearer itspoint or pivot with the frame 1, and when the plate is closed abuts orcontacts with a reversely-disposed stud or tongue 14, which extendsupwardly from the bottom plate 2, in line therewith.

The under side of the locking plate 9 is provided with a curved orU-shaped recess or groove 15, the same being preferably narrower at itsmiddle,.as indicated at 16, and having located at and between its endssuitable keepers 17. Located within the groove 15 and of a width ordiameter about agreeing with the narrowest portion 16 thereof, is aU-shaped spring 18, somewhat longer than the groove and thereforeterminating beyond the same in the form of locking fingers 19, adaptedto spring under the beveled shoulders-7 of the top plate 4 when thelockingplate is closed within the recess 5. The keepers 17 take underthe terminals of the spring 18 and in connection with the contractedportion 16 of the groove retain the spring in position within thegroove, the groove being sufficiently Wide except at its contractedportion to give the terminals of the spring free lateral play orvibration, whereby they are enabled to engage or disengage with thelocking-shoulders 7. It will be obvious that the spring may be readilyreplaced bya new one should it at any time become broken.

20 and 21 designate two overlapping straps, the ends of which areinserted from opposite ends of the buckle-frame into the same, thelocking-plate being raised during such operation, a convenient hole oreye in the strap 21 being caused to engage over the stud 14 of thebottom plate 2, after which the remaining strap is moved along until itsholes or eyelets register with the same, and the locking-plate is swungto a closed position,which causes its longer stud or tongue 11 to passentirely through the two straps and into the bottom plate and itsshorter or rear stud or tongue 13 to enter the upper strap 20 andapproximately abut against the lower stud or tongue 1a. This closing ofthe plate causes the spring-fingers 19 to spring over the beveled edgesof the locking-shoulders 7and engage under the same.

The locking-plate is preferably formed with opposite finger openings 22,immediately above the terminals of the spring, whereby the fingers ofthe operator may be inserted to press the terminals of the springtogether, and to facilitate engaging the spring the latter is preferablyslightly crimped upwardly into the finger-openin gs, as indicated at 23.

It will be obvious that when my buckle is locked there is no dangerwhatever of any accidental disengagment of the locking-plate and thatsuch can be caused only by inserting the thumb and forefinger in theopenings 22 and compressing the spring, so as to cause thespring-fingers to become disengaged from the locking-shoulders.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- In a buckle, thecombination with a hollow buckle-frame open throughout its length andhaving its upper side provided with an opening, one edge of which isrecessed to produce opposite locking shoulders; of a lockingplate hingedat the opposite edge of said opening and provided near its free end withfinger-openings; rigid tongues located in the frame; and a springsecured to the under side of said plate and having its terminalsextending beyond the free end of the same and adapted to engage theaforesaid lockingshoulders, the terminals of the said spring passingunder and kinked up into the said finger-openings of the plate, asspecified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT GARRARD.

Witnesses:

F. L. ARTHAUD, DAVID W. CRUM.

